[Koha] Patron logins, self registration and existing accounts

[Sue McMillan]

Good morning Elaine,

We are a public library who use Koha version 20.11.17.000.  We do allow patrons to self-register via our online OPAC.

The library had CatalystNZ work on the self-registration model so that customers could immediately access our online services (ebooks, newspapers, etc).  Previous to the update customers were not given a valid barcode number which prevented access to these services. Now Koha assigns a valid barcode number to the customer. The card number populates both the card number and username fields.  Customers choose their own password.

You can use the settings under administration to stop people registering using an email address that already exists in Koha, but apart from that there are no controls over stopping existing customers from creating a new card - which they frequently do.  I just merge the self-registration card with their existing card.

We do get some strange and funny self-registrations.   But they make for an interesting day.


Ngā mihi

Sue McMillan
Kaiārahi Whakarārangi Pukapuka me ngā Whakahaere Pūnaha | Cataloguing and Systems Administrator
Te Kaunihera ō Taranaki ki Te Tonga | South Taranaki District Council
46 High Street | Private Bag 902, Hāwera 4640, NZ
Waea/Phone: +64 6 278 0555 | 0800 111 323 | www.southtaranaki.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Koha <koha-bounces at lists.katipo.co.nz> On Behalf Of Elaine Bradtke
Sent: Tuesday, 24 May 2022 6:58 AM
To: koha <koha at lists.katipo.co.nz>
Subject: [Koha] Patron logins, self registration and existing accounts

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We're  a research library. Only members of the Society have borrowing privileges and very few borrow items. All current members have patron accounts.  We're looking at the simplest way to implement user logins. I'm trying to understand how self registration and existing patrons work together (or not)  in regards to user logins.
Two questions:
1) Every member has a membership id number, a combination of numbers and letters (different from their borrowed number).  It would be a simple thing to use their membership id number as their temporary password (allowing them to change the password once they've logged in).  Does this make sense?
2) We  have visiting researchers who aren't members and would like to allow them to self-register. If we enable self-registration, what happens if someone with an existing (member) account attempts to self-register?  Would it detect the possible duplicate?  Will it create a second account?
If there are duplicates, is it possible to merge them?

Just trying to anticipate what will happen before we commit one way or the other.


Elaine Bradtke
VWML <https://www.vwml.org>
English Folk Dance and Song Society <https://www.efdss.org> Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 7AY
Tel    +44 (0) 20 7485 2206 (This number is for the English Folk Dance and
Song Society in London, England. If you wish to phone me personally, send an e-mail first. I work off site)
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